Stacked Up: Worth the Fight Series by Sidney Halston Read Free Book Online Page B

and ran his fingers through his hair. “The best way I can put it is that I do not
not
believe in God. I lived with our grandma for a few months when I was little, one of the times when my mom disappeared, and she would to take us to church on Sundays. It was…” He thought about those days. “Nice. It was nice.”
    She looked at him in a way that made him feel exposed. He needed to change the subject. “So in response to your crazy question, two people who just met in a bar and have been drinking and decide to go home together wouldn’t be making love. They’d fuck. But two people can go out and have drinks and not do anything except plan a second date. That is still an option, Penny. I never expected you to come home with me tonight; that’s why I said that this evening has been a surprise.”
    “I want to. Really, I do. It’s been a stressful year and all I’ve done is work. I haven’t really had any fun. I need fun. You’re fun, right?”
    He laughed. “Oh, darlin’, that I am.” Sometimes he felt that
fun
was all that he was.
    “I need to be someone else tonight. Help me be wild, cowboy.”
    “I can help you be wild, but I’m sure as fuck not helping you be someone else, Penny. I like who you are too much.” He looked over at her and saw that her eyes were once again on him. Assessing him. “What?”
    She shook her head. “Nothing. It’s just that you curse a lot.”
    “Sorry. Is that a problem?”
    “No. I’m just not used to it yet. I mean, I was taught that cursing was a sin, but I’ve found out that there are good people who curse, so I’m not judging. It’s just still a little shocking to hear.”
    He stepped out of the truck and went around to open her door and help her out.
    “I’ve never done anything like this before,” she admitted.
    “I know.” He pulled her close and kissed her gently. “Thank you for letting it be me you experiment with.”

Chapter 4
    “Smells like paint,” Penny said as soon as she walked into his house.
    “I just moved in and had it painted. I still don’t have much furniture.”
    “Wow, it’s beautiful, Travis.” She walked ahead of him, her hands fumbling with her pearls as she looked around. “So, that night that we…uh…you know, kissed…that lady, the show…you really are getting a lot of publicity?”
    “I am. It’s been surreal. I never expected to be anything other than a pro fighter, and now I keep getting calls for interviews. And every now and again I’ll even see photographers outside the Academy.”
    She stopped and looked around as if she expected paparazzi to come out of the woodwork.
    “Not in here—relax.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m not exactly famous. But Francesca seems to think this is just the beginning of big publicity.”
    “But outside? You think people saw us?”
    “Nah. I don’t think anyone knows where I live just yet. Plus, I have that big gate out front.”
    “Oh, okay.” She seemed to relax a little. “I don’t like being photographed.”
    “Care to elaborate?” he said, reaching up to take off her headband and toss it aside.
    “No. Not really.” Her voice trembled. “But you have to promise that you’ll respect that. I don’t want to be on the news or television or anything. Okay?”
    “Sure. I promise,” he agreed with a shrug. “You have the best skin I’ve ever seen,” he went on, tracing a finger down her jawbone. “It gets pink when you’re nervous.”
    “It’s embarrassing,” she said, looking down.
    He pinched her chin gently and lifted her head. “I don’t want you to be shy tonight, okay? The night we kissed, you bit me.”
    “I know. I don’t know what got into me. I’m sorry, I—”
    “Don’t be sorry. It was the sexiest thing I’ve ever experienced. To the world, you wear your pearls and headband, but to me, at least tonight, I want you wild. You said you wanted wild, Penny.”
    “I do. I just don’t think I—”
    “Don’t think.” He